Berrylicious: Raspberry Hazelnut Tea Cake

July has mysteriously vanished and as I head into August I am left to think that never have I had a month zoom past me at the warp speed I experienced this month.

Besides the vacation, the buzz at our household in July was most certainly Soeren starting 1st grade in August. In Germany the beginning of school (not pre-school) is rejoiced with a fete called “Zuckertütenfest”.

To mark this milestone in a child’s life, family and friends are invited to join the festivities. The child gets a “Zuckertüte”, a sugar bag, filled with sweet treats and little toys. To sweeten the hard work they will be doing for a major part of their lives?

Apparently the legend has it that the Zuckertüte grows into a sugar tree! How sweet! Although Soeren just completed pre-school at the International School here in Weimar, the school has taken over this German custom for all their 1st graders too. I love this custom and can hardly wait for my son to start 1st grade, just so that I can plan the party!

Tom and I have been secretly planning, organizing and shopping for school supplies and goodies to fill his Zuckertüte. What fun – almost like Christmas in the middle of summer.

One day, a few weeks ago, as we were picking raspberries at a self-picking farm I asked Soeren what tree does he want his Zuckertüte to grow into. At the spur of the moment he said, with his mouth full of plump red raspberries, “A tree with all my favorite berries on it!”

We spent a good deal of our time at the self-picking farm gathering several berries and discussing the exciting path he would be taking. He is rather proud that he will be going to 1st grade as a 5 year old. A week later he turns 6!

Filled with the anticipation, I wanted to treat him with something sweet and berrylicious. Not a berry tree, but a berry cake, packed with juicy, sweet raspberries and nutty hazelnuts. The raspberries tartly kiss the cake, keeping it moist and soft. The whole hazelnuts add a lovely crunchy texture to the cake and plays off beautifully against the tangy tartness of the raspberries.

August will bring much more! Of that I am sure. But we are welcoming August with open arms. Zuckertütenfest and a birthday party are just two things that will be sweetening the new month for us – and whoever turned down sweet treats?

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Prepare a 26 cm long loaf tin by brushing it with a bit of the melted butter and flouring the insides. Tap out any excess flour.

In a large mixing bowl whisk the eggs and sugar until creamy and pale.

In a separate bowl sieve the flour and baking powder together, then gently stir it into the egg mixture. Whisk only until the flour has been incorporate. Finally whisk in the melted butter.

Using a rubber spatula fold in 150g raspberries and 50g hazelnuts into the batter.

Pour a layer of the batter into the loaf tin, then layer with the remaining raspberries and hazelnuts. Pour in the rest of the batter into the tin.

Back the cake for 40-50 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Take cake out of oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes in the tin. Then tip onto a rack and cool.

Tip: If you are baking this cake only for adults drizzle some raspberry brandy onto the cake while it is still warm. ;-)

Verdict

Summertime berry-time! For us berries become a staple food in the summer. I am always trying to incorporate them in recipes be it salads, desserts cookies or cakes. One of our favorite ways to enjoy them is baking them in simple loaves and cakes. I have not re-invented the wheel here, but I do think this cake is a simple way to delight anyone and if you love berries this cake will provide you with pure satisfaction.

Berries are also on Susan's mind this month, who is hosting Sugar High Friday #45. She picked a theme that any berry lover could not resist: Berries. So Susan are you loving Soeren and my berrylicious cake or what?

And I am welcoming your Raspberry Hazelnut Tea Cake with open arms, Meeta. :) I think Soeren is on to something with a tree that grows all of one's favorite berries. Wouldn't that be utterly delightful?

I hope you enjoy the celebration, and give your little guy a big hug from me on his first day!

My daughter will start "Kindergarten" in September. Here is the US it feels like what used to be 1st Grade for me in Germany - they are expected to be able to read at the end of it, writing letters started even earlier. The "Kindergbarten" level here is the first year of elementary school. All this said - I want my girls to know about "their" background too - they were called "Schultueten" where I grew up. I am planning a party with friends that all have 5 year old girls that will embark into the adventures of riding the schoobus, etc. Looking forward to learning more about your plan for this day (I need advice from "current" Moms in comparison to my memories of when I was six...)

I am sure you and Tom must be so proud! I remember my kids starting off to school at that age, and I had taken off a week just so we could be there for them when they returned home. The first day is so special for the kid and the parents:) Just this once I think its the nostalgia that is better than the mouth watering cake!! Hey, I made the semifredo with many variations according to available ingredients and am glad to proclaim that it is indeed Mr.Perfect!!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have to tell you (and I am sure mums/dads in the house will feel this way too) having a kid a is so much fun because you get to take part in all kinds of fun events.

maybe if we put all our energy together we can call up that Berry Tree - if not you all enjoy this cake.

Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hello, I am Meeta a freelance food photographer, stylist and writer living in the cuturally rich city of Weimar, Germany with my husband and our son, where I enjoy preparing multi-cultural home cooked meals with fresh organic ingredients. What's for lunch, Honey? is my award winning food blog where I combine my love for food with my love for photography and styling...